The manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of ... - Electric Scotland

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In the meantime send me your gift of the Wards. I hav
iireaten to Hew Wallace for it, and I thinke he uill finde it
befor this come to your lordship's hands ; and be sure that, in
all things, Earl Midletone and I uill act as become honest men
that are intirely your servants, as 1 dare ansuer for him he is, as
uell as I.
The probatione seims to be cleir eneugh of Earl Dundonald;
yet seing your lordship feares, I shal not feal to set Midleton on
the other uay, so soon as I have had ane accompt uhat result
your sounding Dundonald had, hou much he uold offer for his
pardone. Not to be brought on the stage, I think it uer his
best cours to giv, and that uold be easier for Midleton and all of
us. The letter to the Chanslour and President of Sessione shal
not be forgot, and I think it may doe good. I am confident
hitherto ther has bein no caus to complaine of my neglect, for I
hav bein as diligent as it uas possible to be, and I am sure,
whatever the sucess may be, I shal never lett uant of
applicatione lose any business I hav in hand. I hav bein often
hear uhen it uas plesant to me, but nou I toyle lyke a hors, and
hav no hour my oun, except since the King uent auay, and, as
soon as he returns, I most begin againe. And hou contrary
soever this is to my inclinatione, yet I finde it plesant, uhen by
such paines, I can serve the King ore those I am bound to ; and
whatever hopes our ennamies may hav, I am sure they never
had less reason, for most of them are knoun to ther soules and
harts uhich is the greatest misfortune can befall a knave. I
told you befor hou Dick domineired first uhen he came
hither, and that he began a discours to me in uhich, he
told me, he uondered uhat could aile your lordship and me
at the toun of Edinburgh. They uold serve us on ther knees and
they respected the meanest of our servants, and why uold ue lett
the toun be undone ? I told him I uas sory to see him hear, for I
thought his business uas to stay at home and mynde his tread.
But I uas sorie to hear any man so impudent as to hnpute the
management of the trust the King had reposed in your lordship
and me, to any prejudice ue could hav to them or any of ther
family. For so, I must tell him, I understood uhat he called the
toun, and that I uas of opinione he uold not be found to represent
any besides the family of Kinloch. He asked at me uhom I
called the toun. I told him I took the toun to be the body of
Merchants and Treads on whom the King had conferred the
priviledges. "Be God!" said he, "Balyzie Drummond is not the
toun." " No," I told him, " but I take him for the provost of
that toun." He suore ther uer many in the toun deserved it better.
" Sir," said I, " that uas not you in the King's opinione, but lett
me allon with your impertinence, or look to yourself." This was
in the Drauing room befor Broadalbin. The day after, he said he
uas sory for the disturbance it uold occatione, for the toun was
lyke to go mad, and they uold choys him, and that uas one of the
reasons he cam auay, becaus he had no influence to hinder the
disorder, and he beleived they uold get most thanks that had
least hand in it. I told him, I kneu them better. They durst as